My 1970 GMC “Project Splice”

[Kronald_70GMC]

Alright so I'm a bit rusty at this whole bodywork thing. I put down another coat on the roof and sanded it too far with 80 grit and still ended up low. I'm definitely not a professional here by any means. I ended up putting a guide coat down to get the 80 grit scratches out which is how I realized I was low in spots. I didn't have any guide coat on hand and the local body supply store was closed for the holiday so I picked up some black chalk from home depot. Worked great and a fraction of the price. Just sprinkled in on and spread it around with a chunk of foam. I got a third coat of filler on the roof including the edges this time. I definitely recommend completely coating the panel you are working before sanding, it worked much better that way instead of trying to feather the edges. I now have the roof sanded in 80 grit but this time I left it just above finish so that I will be able to sand out the 80 grit scratches with 180 before burning through and getting high spots. It's hard to see in the 4th picture but the black chalk shows my low spots. 5th picture is how it is sitting now. Ready for more guide coat and blocking with 180 grit.

[Scurry67]

Looks great! I’m sure your arms are jello by the time you’re done. It’ll pay off though with nice straight panels. Keep it up, I’m enjoying the updates.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by Scurry67

Looks great! I’m sure your arms are jello by the time you’re done. It’ll pay off though with nice straight panels. Keep it up, I’m enjoying the updates.

Thanks man! Great to know that people are following along. The arms were definitely a little sore after all that sanding

[raggedjim]

Nice work. I know, it sucks to do bodywork, but it will payoff in the end.

Good luck, Rg

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

Nice work. I know, it sucks to do bodywork, but it will payoff in the end.

Good luck, Rg

Thank you. I honestly don't mind the actual bodywork itself, it's the dang dust everywhere that really sucks. If a guy goes into it knowing that it is a tedious job it's not so horrible. It will for sure payoff in the end and I'm excited to see the cab in primer.

[Getter-Done]

I am still watching

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

I am still watching

Attachment 2141281

Haha thanks! Good to know I have followers. Helps motivate me to be better.

[sakustoms]

I do not envy you one bit. LOL

Then again I will be doing a bunch of bodywork so I know exactly how you feel.

Just mocked up the mounts for the twin turbos yesterday so bodywork is now at least one step closer.

[BigBird05]

I have spent the last 2 hrs reading about your truck. Wow! Not being a body man could you explain to me what you mean by lay down or laying in wire? I think you are about 2 years ahead of me on your truck.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by BigBird05

I have spent the last 2 hrs reading about your truck. Wow! Not being a body man could you explain to me what you mean by lay down or laying in wire? I think you are about 2 years ahead of me on your truck.

Thanks for the read, it's awesome that people are interested in my project. Id love to help you out but could you be a bit more specific on what you are after? Are you referring to when I was putting a piece of wire along my rocker?

[BigBird05]

Yes you were cutting open the rocker and adding wire.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by BigBird05

Yes you were cutting open the rocker and adding wire.

Yes so there were a few spots where the panels just weren't meeting up where they should have been so I would just slice it and then I would pull it the where everything lined up and sometimes I was left with quite a large gap. Some areas were around 3/8". So what I ended up doing is I picked up some lengths of 1/8" steel rod and I would use it to help me fill in those larger gaps. It was a bit of work because I would then have to make tacks on both sides of the wire until it was all smoothed up but it was better than attempting to bridge the large gap with just weld. Hope this helps.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Couple more small touch ups to sand in the last two indentations and they are done. After that, I plan to block my cart up a bit to get it to a comfortable working height to fill the cab corners and rockers. Getting closer and closer to seeing some primer!

[BigBird05]

Thanks.

[sakustoms]

Looking good.

I used tig wire to help close up the door gaps and to expand and shape the one rocker.

[May70]

Lots of sanding but looking good. Dreading that part.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by May70

Lots of sanding but looking good. Dreading that part.

Thank you! It is alot of sanding but it is very rewarding to see everything form up and come together as one smooth piece. It's not as bad as it seems. Just tackle it one piece at a time.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Well I finally finished up all those glorious indents. I even just about finished up the passenger pillar to the lower body line. Still clinging to that first can of bondo. I have enough for one more mix on the ol' oinion board. Next will be touch up of the door openings and then I'll lift the whole cart to work on the cab corners and rockers.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Started the finishing touches in the passenger door jamb tonight.

[Kronald_70GMC]

My Big Kid Blocks are showing me more areas where my old blocks just weren't cutting it. I'm getting a much better result this time around. Everything is coming along nicely.

[BigBird05]

Now that I have found this thread I am reading everyone. Are you going to be painting it yourself? If so tell us amatures every step and the produces you are using.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by BigBird05

Now that I have found this thread I am reading everyone. Are you going to be painting it yourself? If so tell us amatures every step and the produces you are using.

Haha I will be painting it myself but I'm a while from paint and certainly no expert. I will share everything that I know about painting once I get to that stage and hopefully it will help some others. I'm glad your following along and everything I do will be posted here.

[Kronald_70GMC]

So I have been waiting for some larger casters for my cab cart to go on sale and they finally have! I got these 8" 1200 LB bad boys for 25$ a piece today, regular 60$ a piece. For sure overkill but I wanted more height anyway and the locks on the old casters were pretty fubar'ed. Also being only 3", they were not fun to get back up onto my rubber garage floor when I'd move the cab to the other side for cleaning. Now if only the last dude didn't weld the damn things on. Turns out that a Sawzall with a good blade cuts them off pretty decently. Now the worst part is that I've already sacrificed 2 drill bits to the metal gods and I was already low on the things to begin with so I guess this will have to wait until I can get more bits.

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by Kronald_70GMC

So I have been waiting for some larger casters for my cab cart to go on sale and they finally have! I got these 8" 1200 LB bad boys for 25$ a piece today, regular 60$ a piece. For sure overkill but I wanted more height anyway and the locks on the old casters were pretty fubar'ed. Also being only 3", they were not fun to get back up onto my rubber garage floor when I'd move the cab to the other side for cleaning. Now if only the last dude didn't weld the damn things on. Turns out that a Sawzall with a good blade cuts them off pretty decently. Now the worst part is that I've already sacrificed 2 drill bits to the metal gods and I was already low on the things to begin with so I guess this will have to wait until I can get more bits.

Great choice of going to the Bigger casters.

Since I have been following for a while

I feel like I can suggest,
That it is time for you to learn to sharpen a Twist Drill

Even if you don't do it exactly right it will still drill the hole.

Start with 1st video then when you get (good)
Search more video's like the 2nd one

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qze0GyBxBRY

MrPete222/Twist Drill Geometry link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtnNN5pEjaU

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

Great choice of going to the Bigger casters.

Since I have been following for a while

I feel like I can suggest,
That it is time for you to learn to sharpen a Twist Drill

Even if you don't do it exactly right it will still drill the hole.

Start with 1st video then when you get (good)
Search more video's like the 2nd one

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qze0GyBxBRY

MrPete222/Twist Drill Geometry link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtnNN5pEjaU

Hey right on! Thanks for the video. I need to get a bench grinder for sure.